MINIATURE DRUG DELIVERY PUMP WITH A PIEZOELECTRIC DRIVE SYSTEM
First Claim
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1. A drive system comprising:
- a lead screw having a rotational axis;
a shaft extending along the rotational axis and configured to rotate the lead screw about the rotational axis;
a piezoelectric bender configured to produce reciprocating lateral motion adjacent the rotational axis; and
a clutch coupled to the shaft and configured to rotate about the rotational axis and operably connected to the piezoelectric bender, wherein the clutch is arranged to convert the reciprocating lateral motion of the piezoelectric bender into reciprocating rotary motion about the rotational axis, and wherein the clutch in only one direction turns the shaft which advances the lead screw.
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Abstract
A drug delivery pump which uses a piezoelectric drive system to advance a small syringe piston to deliver a liquid drug and a method thereof are disclosed. The present invention has a cost and size advantage compared to traditional pumps and is a very compact and potentially disposable pump device design.
70 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A drive system comprising:
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a lead screw having a rotational axis; a shaft extending along the rotational axis and configured to rotate the lead screw about the rotational axis; a piezoelectric bender configured to produce reciprocating lateral motion adjacent the rotational axis; and a clutch coupled to the shaft and configured to rotate about the rotational axis and operably connected to the piezoelectric bender, wherein the clutch is arranged to convert the reciprocating lateral motion of the piezoelectric bender into reciprocating rotary motion about the rotational axis, and wherein the clutch in only one direction turns the shaft which advances the lead screw. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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11. The drive system according to claim 11 wherein the bi-morph piezoelectric crystal structure is a laminate piezoelectric crystal stack.
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16. A method for dispensing a liquid drug from a drug container having a piston, said method comprising:
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providing a lead screw connected to the piston of the drug container, the lead screw having a rotational axis; providing a shaft extending along the rotational axis and configured to rotate the lead screw about the rotational axis; providing a piezoelectric bender configured to produce reciprocating lateral motion adjacent the rotational axis; providing a clutch coupled to the shaft and configured to rotate about the rotational axis; and providing a wheel mounted to the clutch and operably connected to the piezoelectric bender, wherein the wheel converts the reciprocating lateral motion of the piezoelectric bender into reciprocating rotary motion about the rotational axis turning the clutch bi-directionally, and wherein the clutch in only one direction turns the shaft which advances the lead screw and the piston dispensing the liquid drug from the drug container. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification